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Iranian footballers show support for protests, political opposition

(Top) Iran's national football team players pose during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asia group 2 qualifying match against South Korea in Seoul, and (bottom) Ali Mohammad Karimi, once called Asia's Maradona, gestures during the game.Photo: AP/Reuters

It's one thing to go out on the street anonymous. It's another thing to show it to the world and of course the game was being shown live on Iranian state TV

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Six members of the Iranian football team wore green wristbands
during a World Cup qualifying match in an apparents show of support
for defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi - but were
then forced to remove them in the second half.

The players which included captain Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Karimi,
once known as Asia's Maradona, Masoud Shohjai and Mehdi Mahdavi,
wore the bands in a match against South Korea in Seoul.

There was speculation about who ordered the footballers to
remove the wristbands. Only Mahdavikia kept his wristband on after
half-time.

A BBC report suggested that Iran's coach forced the players to
remove the bands, while some Iranian bloggers speculated that the
chairman of the Iranian Football Federation was the person behind
the order.

The players' actions were viewed as a very public show of
solidarity with the protesters and the political opposition, as the
match was televised live across Iran on state TV.

It was also significant in a country where football is a
national obsession, and where President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who
won the disputed election, is an avowed fan.

He had even used a football analogy to dismiss protests against
the results, saying the election was like a football match and the
loser should just "let it go".

The BBC's correspondent in Tehran Jon Leyne said it was "an
incredible thing for them to do".

"They are going to be on a flight back to Tehran soon and they
are going to be met at the airport possibly by people from the
government," he told BBC World.

"It shows you the defiance there is in the population here. It's
one thing to go out on the street anonymous.

"It's another thing to show it to the world and of course the
game was being shown live on Iranian state TV."

Football fans at the game held up a banner saying "Go to Hell
Dictator'' and green signs with the words "Where is my vote?''.
Some chanted "compatriots, we will be with you to the end with the
same heart", the Associated Press reported.

Some pro-Mousavi supporters scuffled with people who appeared to
be staff from the Iranian embassy in Seoul, who were trying to stop
the protest, South Korean sports officials said.

"The scuffles were minor and the match went on smoothly," a
spokesman for the Korea Football Association told Agence
France-Presse.

The Iranian team failed to qualify for the World Cup in South
Africa. They were held to a 1-1 draw with South Korea, with North
Korea grabbing the fourth qualifying spot with a 0-0 draw in Saudi
Arabia.

Other related coverage

1244918119857-smh.com.auhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/iranian-footballers-show-support-for-protests-political-opposition/2009/06/18/1244918119857.htmlsmh.com.auSydney Morning Herald2009-06-18Iranian footballers show support for protests, political oppositionGlenda KwekSportFootballhttp://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2009/06/18/470x600iranfootballprotest.jpg

(Top) Iran's national football team players pose during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asia group 2 qualifying match against South Korea in Seoul, and (bottom) Ali Mohammad Karimi, once called Asia's Maradona, gestures during the game.

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